Badfish is named after a song appearing on Sublime's album "40oz. to Freedom." Formed in 2001 at the University of Rhode Island, the group's members, who were computer science majors, began playing local Rhode Island clubs and quickly began selling out shows. They continued touring the East Coast and Midwest, becoming popular on college campuses among Sublime fans who never were able to see the band due to original Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell's untimely death in 1996.

Since 2001, Badfish has done multiple national tours per year. In 2008, the band was nominated for Best Tribute Act in the Boston Music Awards.

But encompassing the sense of place and purpose long associated with Sublime's music, Badfish continues to channel the spirit of Sublime with a fury that's been absent for some time. What separates Badfish from other tribute bands is the band replicated Sublime's essence — developing a scene and dedicated following most commonly reserved for label-driven, mainstream acts.